Mome reads Mommy, My daughter's way to spell it when she was younger... It stuck. My son calls me Mome... just like it looks. I now sign all my notes to them "Love, Mome". It's our inside secret and makes them smile. I always want them to smile.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Positive Reinforcement with My Job Chart

Getting the kids to pitch in and help is sometimes an issue at our house. They never want to help when asked but ALWAYS want to help when I don't ask (or want it). If I'm in a hurry to get the dishes done and dinner on the table you can bet they will be right the begging to help. If I ask them to set the table they either ignore me of politely decline "No thanks". I'm doing this all wrong.

We were having some issues with Boog getting his work done in school. It's not too hard for him, he just was too busy talking and prohibiting others from doing their work. He got moved to a desk by himself. We also gave the teacher permission to have him do his classwork at recess time, while the other kids were playing. It only took a couple days for him to get back on track. He had to spend a month at a table by himself as a consequence for disrupting others.

During this ordeal we came up with a reward chart. It hadn't worked in the past, maybe due to age, but he totally bought into it this time. He received one star for each day he completed classwork, stayed on green (their behavior system) and completed homework without hassle. After 10 stars he got a trip to the dollar store. It took him 2 weeks due to illness and a yellow day, but he was really into it and would come straight home, do his homework and mark his star. I think this is going to be a good tool to start giving him more responsibilities.

My Job Chartis the simplest tool I have found to create such charts. I can even assign tasks to Hubster (just don't mark him as parent). From tasks as simple as making beds, brushing teeth and combing hair. This tool makes it quick to assign daily and weekly tasks for young and older kids (and husbands) to tackle. You can set up tasks and award a point value to each one. You can use the tasks they have already listed as well as add your own. For Hubster you could put tasks such as "Pick up tuxedo for friends wedding." You then set a goal and a reward for achieving it. For busy working moms with older children, you can even get e-mails and/or texts when each job is completed. I love the thought of future trips to the grocery store, alone, and getting a text that says "Dinner is started." Or "Laundry is put away." Isn't that every Mother's dream?

I've always believed in positive reinforcement and feel this tool will keep me focused on just that. With clear expectations, everyone wins. No more asking 100 times. Progress will be rewarded. Simple as that.

I am being compensated for my review of My Job Chart. The opinions are not based on that compensation. The thoughts are 100% mine.